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Jen and Moody have been talking about Emotions and Mental Health on Podcasts all over the world!

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Oh There You Are Podcast

E5: Embracing Emotions: Jen's story of Resilience, Healing, and My Moody Monster

In this heartfelt episode of Oh, There You Are, we chat with Jennifer, an inspiring single mom and entrepreneur who has turned her personal struggles with Complex PTSD and childhood trauma into a mission to help others.

What You’ll Learn:

• The story behind My Moody Monster, a plush toy designed to help kids express emotions and build emotional intelligence.
• Jennifer’s journey from pain to purpose, creating a multi-faceted platform to support emotional wellness.
• Tips on managing emotions, fostering open communication, and embracing self-growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional intelligence starts with acknowledging and naming feelings.
• The power of finding purpose in your pain and sharing it to help others.
• Tools and strategies for fostering emotional health in families.

This episode is a reminder that healing is possible and that you are never alone in your journey. Tune in for Jennifer’s powerful insights, and leave inspired to embrace your emotions and support those around you.

 

Pure Wisdom Podcast

Ep. 58 Jennifer Ginty: Complex PTSD, Mental Health, and Personal Growth

Jennifer is a single mom and entrepreneur who lives with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder from childhood trauma. Throughout her life, Jen has learned valuable coping skills and has made it her mission to help others to better understand their own emotions. 

Jen has faced obstacles in her healing journey - from becoming a mother without a healthy parental model of her own to overcoming her inner saboteur while coping with the symptoms of CPTSD and Depression.  She has spent the last 4 years developing My Moody Monster - a pull apart plush toy that has helped children to get out their frustrations in a safe way and giving families a tool to talk about emotions and communication. 

Jen believes by sharing her own story she can help others to know they are not alone. Her YouTube channel features her Moody Talks focusing on an emotion each month and teaching coping skills that have helped her with her own mental health.

  

Wickedly Smart Women

MY MOODY MONSTER - Jennifer Ginty - Ep. 297

In this powerful episode of "Wickedly Smart Women," host Anjel B Hartwell is joined by the inspiring Jennifer Ginty. Jennifer is a single mom and entrepreneur who bravely opens up about her journey managing complex PTSD and major depressive disorder, stemming from childhood trauma. Despite facing numerous challenges, including the absence of a healthy parental model and internal struggles, Jennifer emerged with a determination to heal and help others.

Jennifer shares how she turned her therapeutic needs into an entrepreneurial venture by creating "My Moody Monster," a plush toy that helps children express their frustrations safely and facilitates family discussions around emotions. Moreover, Jennifer discusses her resilience through a chaotic legal battle involving her abusive father, societal pressures on women, and her empowerment journey of trusting her intuition.

Discover what sparked Jennifer's entrepreneurial spirit and how her personal healing process inspired the creation of Moody, a tool now embraced by parents, therapists, and teachers. She also talks about her business success, including selling out the first batch of Moody toys, securing funding, and her commitment to donating a percentage of toys to support children in traumatic situations.

This episode is a heartfelt narrative on self-awareness, the importance of recognizing emotions, and prioritizing self-care—even for those who have experienced deep trauma. Jennifer's story is not just about overcoming pain but also about creating impactful change and fostering communication and emotion management in children.

What You Will Learn

*How did Jennifer's experiences with complex PTSD and major depressive disorder influence her entrepreneurial journey?

*What specific needs did Jennifer aim to address through the creation of "My Moody Monster," and how does the toy facilitate discussions about emotions?

*In what ways do societal pressures on women to be caregivers suppress their voices, and how can women break free from these constraints?

*How did Jennifer's personal healing process inspire her entrepreneurial venture, and what challenges did she face in bringing her product to market?

*How can tools like "Moody Monster" help children who have experienced trauma articulate their feelings and cope with frustration?

*What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and how has it helped Jennifer manage her complex PTSD and depressive disorder?

*Why is self-awareness particularly crucial for women entrepreneurs, and how did it play a role in Jennifer's journey?

*What are the future plans for expanding "Moody Monster" to help more children, particularly those facing significant trauma or medical conditions?

*Why is self-care vital for entrepreneurs, and how can they incorporate it into their busy lives, as emphasized by both Jennifer and Anjel?

*How can listeners of the "Wickedly Smart Women" podcast engage with Jennifer's mission and the show's community to support broader discussions on mental health and entrepreneurship?

Parenting Village Unplugged

Challenging Behaviors, Emotional Regulation and My Moody Monster

 In this episode, we dive into the world of emotional regulation and discuss how My Moody Monster is helping children and adults better understand and manage those challenging big feelings. Inspired by personal experiences with CPTSD, My Moody Monster was created to be a hands-on communication tool, empowering kids to express their emotions constructively and work through difficult feelings alongside a trusted adult. We explore practical ways to use this tool, building resilience and self-awareness in children, and how parents, teachers, and therapists can support them through challenging behaviors.

 In This Episode, We Cover:

• The Origin of My Moody Monster: Clarinda shares the story behind this unique tool, inspired by her own journey with emotional regulation.
• How My Moody Monster Works: A hands-on approach to help kids "pull apart" frustration and put it back together—creating a chance for open communication and understanding.
• Emotional Regulation and Coping Skills: Practical strategies drawn from DBT and real-world experiences to help kids build their "Emotions Toolbox."
• Managing Challenging Behaviors: Tips for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children work through big emotions in constructive ways.
• Creating Safe Spaces for Expression: How to encourage conversations around emotions and create environments where children feel seen, heard, and supported.

Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Hands-On Tools for Emotional Growth: Tools like My Moody Monster allow children to externalize their emotions, providing a safe way to express and understand them.
• Importance of Communication: Simple, supportive conversations make a world of difference in helping kids develop their emotional vocabulary.
• Building an Emotions Toolbox: Equipping children with skills to handle frustration, sadness, and other big emotions can set them up for lifelong resilience and self-regulation.
• Practical Application for Adults: Tips for parents, teachers, and therapists on using My Moody Monster to promote healthy emotional regulation at home, in the classroom, and in therapy.

Healing and Growing, Hand in Hand

111. Healing Childhood Trauma and Navigating Complex PTSD with Jennifer Ginty

In this episode, we are joined by Jennifer Ginty, the founder of My Moody Monster and a mental health advocate. Jennifer shares her personal journey of overcoming childhood trauma and living with Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder. From her experiences in the legal system to her path to emotional recovery, Jennifer provides valuable insights and tools for listeners who may be dealing with their own trauma.

Episode Highlights:

- Understanding the Long-term Effects of Childhood Trauma: Jennifer discusses how her childhood abuse led to CPTSD and depression and the challenges of navigating the court system.

- What is Complex PTSD (CPTSD)?: Learn about CPTSD, its symptoms, and how it differs from other forms of PTSD.

- Healing through Therapy: Jennifer shares how EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) helped her rewire her trauma-affected brain.

- The Creation of My Moody Monster: Jennifer's unique therapeutic plush toy, Moody, helps children express their emotions in a safe way, especially those dealing with trauma or autism. Moody offers a way for families to communicate about emotions in a healthy and constructive manner.

- Breaking Free from Toxic Shame: we discuss the concept of toxic shame, how it affects trauma survivors, and how to overcome it.

Key Takeaways:

- Subsequent Trauma: Trauma doesn’t end when the abuser leaves. Jennifer explains the secondary trauma that comes with reliving abuse in legal settings and how that can impact healing.

- The Importance of Therapy: Seeking the right therapist and using methods like DBT and EMDR can be life-changing for trauma survivors. Learn how Jennifer found the right professional to guide her healing journey.

- Using Tools like My Moody Monster: Jennifer discusses how her plush toy helps children—and even adults—express and manage their emotions through tactile interaction, creating a path to healthier emotional expression.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Jennifer Ginty

05:00 – Complex PTSD & Major Depressive Disorder

12:15 – EMDR and DBT therapy for healing

16:30 – The birth of My Moody Monster and its impact on families

24:45 – Dealing with toxic shame and finding self-acceptance

35:00 – Jennifer's mission

 

Moving With Meaning The Podcast

Excuses and Escapes: Exploring the 'Not Now' Delay and its Impact on Facing Fears and Pain

Ready to meet a real-life superhero? Join Krystal as she dives into the powerful story of Jennifer Ginty, a mother of two who’s battled her way through PTSD, childhood abuse, and toxic shame. Jennifer’s journey is one of resilience, healing, and finding creative ways to help others, including a plush doll named Moody Monster!

👩‍👦 Motherhood & PTSD:
Jennifer opens up about living with PTSD from the horrific abuse she and her siblings suffered at the hands of their father. Despite the trauma, she’s a devoted mom to two boys, determined to break the cycle.

⚖️ The 'Not Now' Delay:
Jennifer spent years trying to put her father in prison while wrestling with her own fear of a breakdown. Even as she sought therapy, she kept her barriers up—until the day she decided to take control of her health.

🧠 Belief System on Pain:
With deep empathy for others’ pain, Jennifer discusses the complexities of shame, including the concept of toxic shame and how it can warp our understanding of ourselves. She also touches on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as a tool for healing.

🧸 Moody Monster:

Meet the Moody Monster, a pull-apart plush doll Jennifer created to help kiddos express and manage their frustrations in a safe, healthy way. It’s as therapeutic as it is adorable!

Tune in for an episode filled with courage, creativity, and heartfelt insights. Jennifer’s story will inspire you to face your own shadows and find your strength. 🎧✨

  

Avoid the Maze - You Are Special

Do You Have a Moody? Complex PTSD

Jennifer is a single mom living with Complex PTSD and Depression from childhood abuse. While in a therapeutic group one day and frustrated with her symptoms she said, "I wished I had a monster I could rip apart and throw across the room and bang against the wall." The group members replied “yeah, you should have that!” Jen went home and created her first “Moody!” My Moody Monster is a pull apart plush doll to help kiddos with their frustrations in a safe way. Moody has helped families, therapists and teachers to teach healthy coping skills while helping them understand all emotions are valid. The My Moody Monster YouTube channel includes Moody Story Time (Jen and Moody read books about feelings) and Moody Talks with a featured emotion discussing how to understand how feelings effect everyday life and coping skills to work with.

WALK WITH ME, CONVERSATIONS WITH REAL PEOPLE

Jennifer Ginty

Today’s guest, Jennifer Ginty, shares with us the absolute turmoil of being abused as a young girl and eventually having to face a grand jury about things that happened to her when she was a child. She pushed away the trauma and tried to move on with her life without actually feeling all of the feelings associated with the trauma on top of trauma, and as you can imagine, it does not go so well. Motherhood offered her the opportunity to begin to trust her own instincts but it also came with reflection. She connected with a younger therapist that opened her world and made her feel comfortable and relatable. That finally began her healing process.

We do discuss a healing modality and just a word of caution, that when dealing with CPTSD and other serious scenarios, not all treatments or modalities are good for all cases. Sometimes a therapy or session can send the student into a spiral in the wrong ways. Please be cautious and work with a trusted professional. No part of this podcast is meant to diagnose or treat any condition or situation. It is simply information in an effort to spread hope.

Horror Heals with Corey and Kendall 

Monsters and Mental Health: How Horror Saved Me

In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall sit down with Jennifer Ginty, a passionate horror fan and entrepreneur. Jennifer shares her personal journey of growing up in a horror-loving family while dealing with trauma, PTSD, and depression. She opens up about how horror became a source of comfort for her and how it continues to help her manage her mental health. Jennifer also discusses her incredible creation, Moody—a therapeutic doll designed to help children and adults alike process emotions and trauma. Moody’s customizable features, including detachable limbs, provide a safe outlet for frustration and stress. Throughout the conversation, Jennifer reflects on her favorite horror movies, the complex nature of PTSD, and her aspirations for expanding the Moody line to help even more people.

Monsters and Mental Health: How Horror Saved Me

Episode Highlights:

   •  Jennifer shares her upbringing in a family that adored horror and how this connection to horror movies and books was integral to her mental health.

  •  Discussion on how horror culture, especially films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Nightmare on Elm Street, provide comfort and grounding during PTSD episodes.

  •  Insight into the development of Jennifer's entrepreneurial project, Moody, a therapeutic doll created to help people cope with emotional struggles by allowing them to physically release tension and anxiety.

  •  Jennifer's thoughts on how horror genres, like body horror and religious horror, intersect with her personal life and healing journey.

  •  A deep dive into Jennifer's personal experience with childhood trauma, navigating PTSD, and how horror movies helped her find emotional solace during difficult moments.

  •  Conversation about Jennifer’s love for characters like Ash from Evil Dead and how those horror icons became a source of comfort and empowerment.

Jennifer’s Journey with Moody:

  •  The origin story of Moody, born from Jennifer’s desire to create something that could physically represent and help process emotional distress.

  •  Moody’s arms, legs, and head are detachable, allowing users to rip it apart and release anger and frustration in a healthy way.

  •  Moody has been embraced by therapists, teachers, and families, and Jennifer shares her vision of expanding the product line to include customized dolls for children with ADHD and autism.

  •  Jennifer discusses plans for a Make-a-Monster feature, where kids and adults can design their own Moody doll, tailoring it to their specific needs.

Key Takeaways:

  •  Horror isn’t just about scares; for some, it’s a therapeutic and healing experience that helps them navigate trauma and emotional challenges.

  •  Jennifer’s story is a testament to the power of creativity, as she turned her own struggles into something that can help others with similar challenges.

•  The horror community continues to be a place of comfort and connection for those who feel like outsiders or who are managing difficult life experiences.

Favorite Final Person: Jennifer’s favorite final person is Ash from Evil Dead. She loves everything about his character and the series, calling Ash her “absolute favorite hero.”

  

 Think Your Way to an Epic Life with Kara Schug

Living with Complex PTSD, How to Heal & Help Others!

In today's episode Host Kara Schug interviews Jennifer Ginty!

Jennifer a single mom and entrepreneur who lives with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder from childhood trauma. Jennifer created "My Moody Monster"  a Plush Buddy to help with Frustration & BIG Feelings!

"I feel it's so important that I share my story with others so there is a better understanding of trauma and the changes it makes to a person's life. If just one person feels they are not alone, then I have done my job for the day."

One of the most important missions for Moody Monster is to get them to First Responders and Social Workers who help children in traumatic events.

 

Message in the Middle with Marianne DeMello-Smith

Navigating Big Emotions with Jennifer Ginty and Moody Monster

Today we're diving deep into the world of big feelings. Emotions can be overwhelming for anyone, but learning to manage them is crucial, especially when it comes to guiding our children and grandchildren and providing them with tools to help them process, communicate and heal.

In this episode, we have a special guest, Jennifer Ginty. Jen is a single mom, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate who has bravely navigated life with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder resulting from childhood trauma. Despite these challenges, Jen has emerged stronger and is now on a mission to help others understand and manage their emotions through her YouTube channel and unique creation "Moody Monster."

Key Discussion Points:

• Jen's Personal Journey: Jen shares her back story with abuse that led to Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder. She discusses the obstacles she faced and the coping skills she developed along the way.
• Introducing "My Moody Monster": Discover the inspiration behind Jen’s innovative creation, "My Moody Monster," and how it serves as a tool for emotional education and well-being.
• Misconceptions About Big Feelings: Jen addresses common misunderstandings about managing emotions and shares how she overcame them.
• Societal Influences on Emotional Perception: We explore how societal factors shape our views on emotions and Jen offers advice on navigating these influences.
• Practical Advice for Emotional Overwhelm: Jen provides actionable tips for those feeling overwhelmed by their emotions, offering a starting point for managing them.

 

The Fierce Feminine with Melissa Harrison

Season 3 Episode 3: Jennifer Ginty: Healing & Intuition, The Path to Trusting Yourself

Join Melissa Harrison on the Fierce Feminine Podcast as she welcomes Jennifer Ginty, a passionate advocate for healing and self-compassion. In this moving episode, Jennifer shares her journey of learning to trust her intuition after experiencing trauma and abuse. She opens up about the challenges of rebuilding self-trust and the pivotal role of validation and support from others.

What You’ll Learn:

- Navigating Intuition After Trauma: Understand the difficulties trauma survivors face in trusting their inner voice.

- Building Trust: How validation and support from others can help you reconnect with your intuition.

- Healing and Self-Compassion: The essential role of self-care in developing intuitive trust.

- My Moody Monster: Discover Jennifer’s passion project—a plush doll designed to help children cope with frustrations and trust their feelings.

- Empowering Children: Why it’s crucial to trust children’s intuition and let go of the belief that adults always know better.

Key Takeaways:

- Trauma can make it difficult to trust your intuition due to fear of making mistakes.

- Validation and support from others are essential in rebuilding intuitive trust.

- Healing and self-compassion are vital in developing trust in your intuition.

- Trusting children's intuition requires adults to let go of the notion that they always know better.

Must-Hear Quotes:

- "Intuition is moment to moment. So even when we screw up, like even when we don't listen, the next way to maneuver is always there."

- "I firmly believe this happens to everybody. Now that I can recognize it, it's not coincidental."

Hot Mess Espresso with Heather Herington

Season 5 Episode 5: Jennifer Ginty

Jennifer created My Moody Monster, and she's here to talk about what inspired the creation of the doll, how it's helped her and others, and her own mental health journey.

  

The Language of Play - Kids that Listen, Speech Therapy, Language Development, Early Intervention - Dinalynn Rosenbush, SLP | Speech Pathologist, Parent Mentor, Communication with Kids

130 Jennifer Ginty Shares How A Doll Can Help Children Process Big Emotions

   

Word of Mom Radio

Jennifer Ginty and My Moody Monster on Healthy Habits with Dori DeCarlo

Jennifer Ginty is a single mom and entrepreneur who lives with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder from childhood trauma. Throughout her life, Jen has learned valuable coping skills and has made it her mission to help others to better understand their own emotions.

Jen has faced obstacles in her healing journey - from becoming a mother without a healthy parental model of her own to overcoming her inner saboteur while coping with the symptoms of CPTSD and Depression. She has spent the last 4 years developing My Moody Monster - a pull apart plush toy that has helped children to get out their frustrations in a safe way and giving families a tool to talk about emotions and communication.

Jen believes by sharing her own story she can help others to know they are not alone. Her YouTube channel features her Moody Talks focusing on an emotion each month and teaching coping skills that have helped her with her own mental health.

 

Connect.Inspire.Create with Carol Clegg

146 From Trauma to Healing with 'My Moody Monster' with Jen Ginty

The journey of healing is a personal odyssey, unique and transformative for every individual who embarks upon it.

For Jen Ginty, her odyssey led her to create "My Moody Monster," a pull apart plush toy designed to assist children and adults alike in managing their complex emotional landscapes. The podcast episode featuring Jen's story offers a profound look into the heart of emotional wellness, a subject that resonates with countless individuals navigating their own challenges with mental health.

Jen is a single mom and entrepreneur who lives with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder from childhood trauma. Throughout her life, Jen has learned valuable coping skills and has made it her mission to help others to better understand their own emotions.

Jen has faced obstacles in her healing journey - from becoming a mother without a healthy parental model of her own to overcoming her inner saboteur while coping with the symptoms of CPTSD and Depression.  She has spent the last 4 years developing My Moody Monster - a pull apart plush toy that has helped children to get out their frustrations in a safe way and giving families a tool to talk about emotions and communication.

Jen believes by sharing her own story she can help others to know they are not alone. Her YouTube channel features her Moody Talks focusing on an emotion each month and teaching coping skills that have helped her with her own mental health.

 

Connection Over Perfection with Amber McCrea

Jennifer Ginty - Parenting with Purpose

Are you a mom struggling to guide your little ones in understanding and regulating their emotions while you're also trying to do the same?

You are not alone. Join us on "Connection Over Perfection" as I talk with Jennifer Ginty, mental health advocate and creator of "My Moody Monster." Jennifer shares her insights and stories about the dual journey of parenting and personal healing, offering hope and strategies for mothers everywhere.

In this episode, we explore how unspoken emotions can isolate us from our children and ourselves and how acknowledging and addressing these feelings can strengthen our connections. Jennifer provides practical tips and relatable stories that encourage emotional wisdom and resilience, empowering you to face both parenting and personal challenges with confidence.

Blossom Your Awesome

Big Feelings With Jennifer Ginty

Jennifer Ginty joins us for episode #277 of the Blossom Your Awesome Podcast.

Jennifer is a Mental Health Advocate and the founder of My Moody Monster, a pull apart toy for kids to help them better cope when those BIG feelings come up.

Jennifer is a single mother and survivor of childhood trauma living with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder. Throughout her healing journey, Jennifer has learned many coping skills to help through the difficult symptoms of her Mental Health Diagnoses. During a particularly hard period, Jennifer created My Moody Monster, a pull apart plush doll, to help children to better cope with their own frustrations in a safe way. Families, therapists and teachers have found Moody to help with communicating with children about their emotions and helping them understand that all feelings are valid.

 

Unbreakable Mompreneurs with Charisse Walker

Rising Strong: Navigating Trauma and Building Emotional Resilience with Jennifer Ginty

Join Charisse Walker, host of Unbreakable Mompreneurs, in a heartfelt conversation with Jennifer Ginty, the resilient creator behind My Moody Monster. Jennifer, a single mom battling Complex PTSD and Depression stemming from childhood abuse, shares her inspiring journey of turning pain into purpose.

 

The Other Side of Fear

What is Complex PTSD? | with Jennifer Ginty

Speaking to Jennifer Ginty about her experience with childhood abuse,  we highlight  the complex world of dealing with C-PTSD. She peels back the layers of how repeated trauma shapes one's emotional landscape and relational dynamics.

In discussing the deeply embedded fears and self-doubt that results from childhood trauma, Jennifer enlightens us on the transformative power of therapies like EMDR and DBT, offering a testament to the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance. We further discuss the  fundamental protective nature of anger and, how Jennifer's invention,  My Moody Monster, can be used as a tool to help children express and cope with their emotions.

Jennifer provides practical tools and coping strategies that can help with recovery, sharing innovative methods involving My Moody Monster, the Crayola Model Magic, alongside the DEAR MAN communication technique, which together can be an excellent resource for those seeking to express and regulate emotions.

 

Lift OneSelf Podcast 

Episode 87 - Finding Inner Safety in a Sea of Past Traumas with Jennifer Ginty